PACO News
With guidance from our Governor, state public health officials and the CDC, many live PACO events will be offered online, postponed or cancelled. These decisions have been made due to increasing concerns about COVID19 and out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of PACO members, sustaining members, sponsors and guests at PACO events.
Renew Your Commitment to PACO
Renew your commitment to PACO! Reconnect by collaborating with other professionals and giving back to the Central Ohio community through working with paralegal students, mentoring paralegal students or junior paralegals, working with the Pro Bono Committee to serve senior citizens through the Wills Clinics, participate at a Roundtable discussion, or working on any of PACO's committees to better the organization! Reach out to any of our Committee Chairs to find out more information and opportunities to get involved with PACO.
PACO – Thank You to the Franklin County Clerk of Courts Office!
PACO's Program Committee would like to send a big 'Thank You' to Nick Tuell, Jacob Krebs and Torrey Taylor from the Franklin County Court Clerk's Office for presenting on September 24, 2020 regarding Updates to the Electronic Filing System. It was a great presentation and very informative!
PACO - Paralegal Volunteers Needed to be Poll Workers on Election Day - You can Earn 2 Hours of CLE Credit!
The Ohio Supreme Court made a one-time rule change in conjunction with the Secretary of State Frank LaRose, to work on ways to staff the polls this year during COVID-19. If you are interested in being a Poll Worker on Election Day November 3, 2020, you can earn 2 hours of CLE credit. Contact your local Board of Elections office and/or visit the Ohio Secretary of State's website for more information on how to sign up to be a poll worker. To be eligible for the two credit hours of CLE you must work the entire day at the polls (5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) and complete training at your county board of elections office.
What is needed to obtain the 2 hours CLE credit? You would need a Certificate of Completion of the time worked at the poll signed by the poll worker in charge at the polling site. It can be on the Board of Elections Letterhead or by using this generic form provided by the Ohio State Bar Association:
Certificate of Attendance: Paralegals may use the certificate of attendance form as a helpful tool in providing proof of attendance at a CLE event. You may also use any certificate of attendance provided by the CLE provider.
Franklin County Clerk of Court News - Clerk O’Shaughnessy Equips Staff with Naloxone to Help Combat Opioid Epidemic - In case of emergency, life-saving drug may be administered by trained Deputy Clerks
In partnership with Franklin County Public Health, the Franklin County Clerk of Courts’ offices are now supplied with Narcan and may be administered by trained staff. Narcan is the first and only FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.
According to Franklin County Public Health, opioid overdoses kill an average of seven Ohioans every day. Since 2007, unintended drug overdoses have exceeded car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in Ohio.
“Although we do not expect an overdose to ever take place in our offices, Clerk O’Shaughnessy wants to be prepared for such an event” said Nick Tuell, spokesperson for the Office. “Simply having access to Naloxone can save a life.”
Locations that store Narcan include Clerk O’Shaughnessy’s Auto Title branches, Legal Divisions, Fiscal Services, and Information Technology offices.
Individuals may request their own Narcan kit on Franklin County Public Health’s website: https://myfcph.org/health-systems-planning/ep/opiate-crisis/
PACO - Invite to NFPA Region III CLE
The Judge Advocate General's Association of Legal Paraprofessionals (JAGALP) who are a fellow NFPA Region III association, have invited PACO members to a CLE event on the topic of Introduction to Employment Law for Paralegals.
Details: The Judge Advocate General's Association of Legal Paraprofessionals will host two hours of continuing legal education for anyone interested in attending. The CLE will be conducted by their association Vice President Tae Sture.
When: September 26, 2020 12:00 PM, EDT
Where: Virtual via ZOOM EVENT
Cost: The cost for attendance is $10.00 for JAGALP members and $20.00 for non-members.
Registration: You can register for this event at the following URL: https://jag3saolp.wildapricot.org/event-3973261
An e-mail with specific zoom meeting instructions will be sent in an e-mail once registration is complete and finalized. Don't miss out on the opportunity to attend one of the first CLE events hosted by JAGALP and facilitated by our association Vice President.
PACO - Invite from the NFPA to Delaware State Bar Association and Drexel University FREE Webinar
Join the Delaware State Bar Association and Drexel University for a webinar about Ethical and Legal Issues in the Use of AI (Artificial Intelligence). The event gives attendees an opportunity to learn more about the issues and challenges with AI used in business, healthcare, human resources and law.
When: Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Cost: FREE
Registration: online.drexel.edu/dsba-webinar
*If your organization is not listed, enter 'NFPA' on the second partner line.
Leading the discussion are two faculty members, Professor Paul Flanagan, Director of the Privacy, Cybersecurity and Compliance Programs, Assistant Professor of Law at Kline School of Law, Drexel University and Dr. Jim Castagnera, Adjunct Professor at Kline School of Law.
NFPA - 2020 Annual Convention - First VIRTUAL Annual Meeting & Convention - Registration is Live!
If you have always been interested in attending the NFPA Convention and could not, this is your chance to experience it as registration for the National Federation of Paralegal Association's 46th Annual (Virtual) Convention is now live!
This is the first NFPA Virtual Annual Meeting and Convention and hope you will consider attending. The Convention will be held from October 22-25, 2020 (Central time). Discover the latest trends through educational sessions and workshops that will immerse your knowledge and elevate your professional career.
The Keynote Speaker is Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul C. Thissen who will be speaking about the expansion to Access to Justice and Minnesota's proposed pilot project to allow legal paraprofessionals to provide limited legal advice and to appear in court for certain cases. Be sure to register today!
Thursday - October 22, 2020 - Continuing Legal Education Sessions and Workshops
Friday - October 23, 2020 - NFPA Region Meetings
Saturday - October 24, 2020 - Policy Meetings
Sunday - October 25, 2020 - Policy Meetings
Visit the NFPA's Convention Schedule-at-a-Glance page for more information: https://www.paralegals.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3826
Visit the NFPA's registration page at: https://www.paralegals.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3825
CBA Corner - CBA Interpreters
Our doors may be closed, but we are still here to serve! Our supreme court certified interpreters are here to assist with your interpretation and translation needs via phone, video, or email! Translation and interpretation services can be provided by a certified court interpreter in the following languages: Spanish, French, Russian, Mandarin, Somali, Hindu, Italian and German. Please send your requests and/or documents to Tanisha@cbalaw.org for assistance.
PACO - SHOUT OUT - TO PACO SUSTAINING MEMBERS!
Anderson Reporting Services, Inc. - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Anderson Reporting Services, Inc. for partnering with PACO to bring our General Membership meetings to the membership via Zoom. During these unprecedented times with COVID-19 Anderson Reporting has provided our organization with the ability to keep moving forward and we truly appreciate all that you do for PACO! For more information about Anderson Reporting, click here: https://andersonreporting.com/
Poling Law - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Poling Law who has been a wonderful supporter of PACO over the years and sponsor of many events! For more information about Poling Law, click here: http://poling-law.com/
Robert Half Legal - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Robert Half Legal who has been a wonderful supporter of PACO over the years and sponsor of many events! For more information about Robert Half Legal, click here: https://www.roberthalf.com/employers/legal
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to the Legal Aid Society of Columbus for their partnership over the past decade with the PACO/LASC Pro Bono Wills Clinics. At these clinics, attorneys talk with the clients and paralegals work alongside the attorneys to prepare the documents which is a great pro bono collaboration for attorney-paralegal teams. Because of Legal Aid’s partnership, its malpractice insurance is extended to attorneys who volunteer, which is a crucial component that PACO cannot offer alone. For more information about The Legal Aid Society of Columbus, click here: https://www.columbuslegalaid.org/
Heritage Bridge Genealogy - PACO would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Heritage Bridge Genealogy, our newest sustaining member. We appreciate your support and look forward to an enduring relationship! For more information about Heritage Bridge Genealogy, click here: https://www.heritagebridge.com/
By becoming a Sustaining Member or a Law Firm Sustaining Member your support promotes the interests of paralegals, fosters relationships with the legal community, serves the public, advocates the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and endorses the mission of PACO.
For more information about becoming a Sustaining Member or a Law Firm Sustaining Member with PACO, email Angie Vohsing, Vice President/Membership Coordinator at: vp@pacoparalegals.org
NFPA - Paralegal Education - Enhancing Your Skills
NFPA CLE encompasses programs designed for legal professionals, covering topics in substantive areas of law; technology programs used specifically by legal practitioners, such as legal research programs; education on programs designed to assist legal professionals, such as document manage;, as well as the basics such as research, court rules and updates, recent legal decisions, writing skills and ethics. Nearly every continuing education program designed for an attorney can be taken by a paralegal, with the possible exception of topics limited to licensed attorneys, such as “How to Cross Examine a Hostile Witness”, although such topics are often of interest to senior paralegals who assist at trial.
The law is an ever evolving being – it is not just what is written in a book, but what is decided by the highest courts today and tomorrow. What was good law one day, may not be so tomorrow. So too is the ever evolving world of technology as it effects the practice of law. Thus, to keep abreast of what is new, paralegals need to take CLE. It makes you a better paralegal and a more valuable asset to your firm or legal department. For more information, click here https://www.paralegals.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3290
ACEDS - Check out ACEDS Upcoming Community Live Events!
Check out ACEDS Knowledge & Skill Building which is taught by experts, for more information click on the following link: https://www.aceds.org/events/event_list.asp?show=&group=&start=5%2F8%2F2017&end=&view=&cid=15830
Franklin County Law Library - Remote Resources Available
Remote Resources Available - While the law library is closed, patrons can continue to use their resources remotely.
· Email them your research requests at fcll-info@franklincountyohio.gov. They usually answer requests within the hour.
· Fastcase is an online research database similar to Lexis and Westlaw. You can access this site remotely using the username FranklinCounty and password fastcase.
· eBooks are available through their website. Several Matthew Bender handbooks are available. (You only need your law library card number.)
· They have 57 Legal Research Guides to help you on any number of topics. These guides are compiled by their Reference Librarian and contain information vital to your topic.
· The Ohio Legal Help Portal is another great resource for finding legal assistance.
Feel free to download any of their legal forms.